The mission of the Digital Archiving Lab (DAL) is to convert Simpson Library’s rare and unique archival materials to digital formats. Using specialized equipment and specifications to properly handle materials, we digitize rare books, manuscripts, photographs, scrapbooks, and more. These digital objects are used to support the research and teaching goals of the UMW community, and can be accessed on many platforms among the Library’s online digital collections. 

The Digital Archiving Lab is also available for use by UMW faculty, staff, and students. DAL staff offer training on the lab's equipment and software, as well as consultation on digitization, digital preservation, and digital collection projects. To schedule an appointment, please email archives@umw.edu or call 540-654-2045.

Equipment available for use in the Digital Archiving Lab includes the following: 

Several workstations in the Digital Archiving Lab also include the Adobe Creative Cloud software suite, including Photoshop, Lightroom, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. 

Students, staff, and faculty can schedule appointments to use the equipment and software in the Digital Archiving Lab.

Examples of projects that used the DAL:

• University of Mary Washington Herbarium
  • Thousands of herbarium specimens digitized by students in the DAL.
• Rowe Family Scrapbooks
  • Scrapbook pages digitized by students in the DAL for an "Adventures in Digital History" course project. 
• Margaret Sutton Art Works
  • Many works by Margaret Sutton were digitized by students in the Art History department's "Laboratory in Museum Studies" course for their annual exhibition. 
• World War I Posters
  • Simpson Library's World War I posters were photographed by Library staff in the Digital Archiving Lab.